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Alaska hunting: Petersburg area

Listen
to a RealAudio  interview (8:47) with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Area Wildlife Biologist for additional information about hunting
Alaska in the Petersburg area.

Species

Black bear, Sitka black-tail deer, and mountain goats are the big game species most
pursued by hunters here. There are also small populations of moose in some areas and brown
bears in a few locations. Wolves are generally found throughout the area except on some
smaller islands.

Area Sponsor

If you are a Petersburg area provider of services or goods for hunters, we invite you to advertise in this space. We want to provide both additional information about
Petersburg hunting and an opportunity for you to make people aware of what you do. We can take up to 125 words. We will work with you on the exact wording so that it provides information for those who read and helps you at the same time. The text can include your website address and other contact information. We would also like to display one of your best photos in this space -- we want to illustrate
Petersburg hunting and at the same time show what you are doing. If you would like to sponsor this page, please contact contact Pam at 1.907.895-4919; 9 - 5 Alaska time. The cost is only
$96 for one year.

Hunting Seasons

Please check the current Alaska hunting regulations booklet for exact season
timing. Deer season opens in late summer and runs until late in the year. While some
hunters take deer in alpine areas early in the season, many hunters wait until mid-season.
Black bear seasons run spring and fall. The mountain goat season is open in the fall.

Geography

Central Southeast Alaska is very similar to elsewhere in the region: a series of
islands surrounded by arms of the Pacific Ocean, and the mainland coast. The islands are
heavily timbered with thick underbrush in many areas. The mountains rise high enough to
support alpine vegetation in some parts of the area. The mainland coast is mountainous,
and the islands are hilly to mountainous. The Stikine River comes out of British Columbia
in this area. Most of the islands are protected from the open Pacific.

Transportation

Petersburg and Wrangell enjoy daily jet airline service. Kake and other area
communities can be reached via scheduled commuter airlines. Alaska Marine Highway ferries
calls at Petersburg and Wrangell several times each week. As elsewhere in Southeast, much
transportation is done by boat.

Weather

Spring weather tends to be mild and relatively pleasant with stretches of sunny days,
but with more rain and wind than most people are used to. The fall season tends to be very
rainy with occasional stretches of sunny weather. Pacific storms generally increase later
in the season. Hunters should be prepared for wet weather and able to stay in remote
hunting areas for a few extra days to wait out storms.

The Petersburg area biologist reminds black bear hunters that it is important to make
certain of killing shots. Because of the dense forest cover these bears are almost always
near, it is critical to insure that they do not escape. This may require extra hits.